Match-making machine.



e; P. Looms. MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 29,1908.

i I APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1907.

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I G. P. LOOMIS. MATGH MAKING MACHINE.

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. air-=5 m ifill APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,,1907.

G. P. LOOMIS. MATCH MAKING MACHINE. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908-.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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APPLICATION 11.21) In 6, 1907.

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MATCH MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1901.-

Patented Sept. 29, 1908. 0 8HEETSSHBBT 7.

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yaaiwd P. ooms. MATOH MAKING MACHINE. APPLIUATIOH FILED MAY 6; 1 907.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908;,

v 9 SHEETS-$111331 8.

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fig/7 G ear 00mm, 2'77 Y 9% G. P. LOOMIS- V MATCH MAKING PPLIOATION FILED MACHINE.

' MAY 6, 1907.

, Patented Sept. 29, 1908. 9 SHEETS-SHEET a v Mme/7Z0):

0602" 52A 00mm,

a AVAILABLE. 1.2a

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE .P. LOOMIS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW'YORK.

MATCH-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed May 6, 1907. Serial No. 371,973.

- be novel and my invention, attention is dirooted, to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of the embodiments 'of my invention, Figure l'is a partial sid'e eleva tion-of a match-makingvmachine; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. with certain of the parts broken away to expose the cutting head and the; holders for the match splints;

Fig. 3 'isan end viewof the machine with the upper portion broken away; Fig. 4 .is a.

detail view showing the means for moving the knives and the. knife case; Fig. 5 is an "end View on. a somewhat enlarged scale of the means for forcing the matches out of the holders and the hoppers-which receive the finished matches and discharge them into ,the'boxes; Fig. 16 is a detail sectional viewof the same taken at right angles to that of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail view 001:-

ing into certain of the compartments 6 the hopper; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional'view through the head which carries the knives;

.Fig. 9- is a perspective view showing the $1 'plan-viewof the knives advanced in the knife case ready to cut the'wooden block from which the match splints are made; Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the. knivesA-neartheend of their cutting stroke; 11 is a pers ective view showing, the knives at the en of their cutting stroke, the said knives being drawnbackintothe knife-case; Fig. 12 i s a perspective showing the match splints after theyhave beenforced into one of the holders; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of.

the sections ofthe knife-case; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the locking bars; ig. .,15 is a view showing the three kinds view dig-the main operating bar for moving Specification of Letters Patent.

kdiwes employed; Fig. 16 is'a perspective- Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

' reciprocating head showing the location and arrangement of the main actuating bar and two of the knife-locking bars; Fig. 18 is a plan view of a portion of the head, with the fingers for centering and guiding the splints in their operative position; Fig. '19 is a sectional view of the knife-case and its cooperating parts; and Fig. 20 is a diagram showing the relation between the knives in their cutting positions and the holesin the holders to receive their splints.

The frame of the machine comprises side portions l which are connected by frame bars extending between and bolted thereto in the usual manner. The machine is driven by the main shaft 2 from a suitable source of power, such, for example, as an electric motor or countershaft. Mounted on the.

shaft is a pinion 3 meshing with a spur-gear 4 carried by a short shaft 5. On this shaft are eccentrics-6 and 7, the former actuating v the splint or match holders step by step through. themedium of the eccentric rod 8 and its strap. Theffree endv of the rod is connected to a pivoted arm 9 that carries a spring-pressed pawl 10'on its upper end. The pawl acts on a ratchet wheel 1 1"mounte'd on the horizontal shaft; 12.- On opposite ends of this shaft are toothed 'wheels 13, Fig. 2, the teeth of which enter notchesl lin the. ends. of the perforated splint or match hold- ,ers or carriers 15 and advance the same step by step. The holders are provided with rollers on the under side which travel in a suitable track. 1 Rising vertically at the left-handend of the machine, Fig. 1, are frame bars 16 between which -'is supported the cross-head 17 for forcing the finished matches from the holders. This cross-head is provided with three rows of pins, Fig. '6, extendin across the machine from sideto side, where y three rows if matches are simultaneously discharged into the hoppers. The cross-head is moved up and ,down by toggles comprising. links 18 and 19, Fig.- 1, the former beingpivoted, to the frame and the latterto the cross-head. Mounted in brackets 20 is a shaft 21 carrying arms 22, the latter being connected to the members of the toggles by j the links 23. These-links force the members of the tog le-from the position shown into a straightme posltion -to drive out the niat hes. Oil fthe end of the shaft 21 is an arm 24 connected by the rod 25 with the eccentric strap around the eccentric f7. Mounted on the shaft 21 is a second arm having a [slotted end.

. positions'of the hoppers. Mounted for en gagement with the --notches is a springpressed arm 38- that holds the hoppers in charging matches. I

On the ri ht-hand end of the machineis a proper POSll'JOIlS both for. receiving and thefriction devlce for retarding the movements f of the holders. It comprises a shaft 39 mounted in bearings on the frame and carrying wheels 40, Fig. 2, the teeth of which enter the notches M in the match-holders.

. On one end of the shaft is a wheel .41, Fig. 1, 'around which is a flexible'band carrying a I weight at its lower end. The friction be- 25 tween the strap and the wheel is sumcient to retard the rotation of the shaft 39 and hence the movement of the holders.

The constructlon and arrangement of the head which carries the knives will now be "tween the sides of a machine measured in a described: It is evident that the distance bediagonal plane is greater than the distance measured in a plane perpendicular thereto.

I make use of this fact and so dispose the -head that the cutting edges of the knives oe-. .cupy a diagonal plane and by reason of thisfact I amable to increase the number of knives fora given width of machine and cut a greater number of match splints for a given stroke of the head than would be possible if the plane of the'knives was perpen dicular to the sides. This arrangement en ables-me to decrease the width of the machine to a minimum for a given output, or.

to increase the output for a given width. Decreasing the width of the maehine means a shortening of the splint holders,'a saving in floor space, a. saving of stock used inconstructingv the' machine, a decrease in the weightof the parts, especially of the match holders or carriers, and a decrease in the liability of the latter distorting-or failing to ion the right-hand side, 2, to receive the vertically moving head 43. The left-hand move freely.

Extending diagonally across the machine is a frame bar-42 having dovetail groove side of the head is cut away adjacent the v frame bar-to receive thecams for'"rec-i'procatingthe knives and also the knife-case and for actuating the fingers which grip and at the'same time direct the upper ends of the .match splints, as will appear later.

Mounted 'below the head in suitable bearings, andextending parallel therewith, IS a of parts is effected.

later.

crank-shaft 44:, Fig. 3, connected at the ends by two connecting-rods l5 and L6 with the. head. In 0 er to balance the weight of the head .and ts attached parts, wholly or largely, a counterweight d7, Figs. 2 and 8, is provided that'moves up and down in a dovetail groove formed on the lefthand side of thediagonal frame bar 42. By using the same frame bar to guide the head and comr terweight a saving in space and the number The counterweight is connected to the head by a lever l8, Fig. 8, pivoted to the frame-bar- 42 and. vertical links 49 and 50. V

Mounted on top of the head and movable therewith .is a knife-case 55, Fig. 11, arranged to receive the knives for cutting the match splints. The knife-case is made in t-hree sections, one for each section of the trough 56, Fig. 2, through which the match stock is fed. The knife case is made in sections so that it can be securely held in place on the head without springing, and also to facilitate manufacture. Each of said seetions comprises a fiat plate having rectanguand a shank of rectangular cross-section makin a snug fit in the groove but free to sllde t erein under certain conditions. The grooves 57 and 58 in a given set are of the same length and extend onlya portion of the a way through the case while the groove 59 extends entirely therethrough. The front end of the case is cut away to form a shoulder G0 whiclnwhen the case is in its advanced position, engages a stop 60, Fi s. 8 to 12, on the reciprocating head 43. '1 1e means for moving the knife-case bodily toward and away from the cutting position and in a plane perpendicular thereto will be described All of the cutters have to be moved longitudinally in order to move the match splints back to the desired positions for loading the holders 15. The knives are located as close together as possible in order to save splint stock and owing to this arrangement there is little space'between them, whereas it is desirable to have considerable space between the splints when mountcd in the holders. To this end the knives are moved after the splints are formed in a nnnmer to ,opcnup the spaces between them. In the present, embodiment of the invention every third knife has thefsame movement. The first knife has a relatively long movement,

the second a shorter one, and the third knife of each set a still shorter one. These dissimilar .movements of the knives plus the angular relation of the knives and holders result in widely separating'the' splints. 'l regard this feature as being of great importance. To provide for this HmVOlm'Hl m to or from:the-cuttingposition. The knifem se .oniins'tahce the under side 0t? thekhife case iscut'away at 61 Fig. 13, to, receive-thelockmoved a predetermined amount-while ce'r tai'nother knives, also,- arranged in sets, are

in'g bar is: provided with a series of short every third: knife. The locking-bar-is also capable of sliding bodily aside'wise mansttrikesa shoulder, the space providing for this lost-motionbeing shownat 64, Fig.8. The rear end of'the knife-case is cut away on the-under side at 64, Figs.--8 and 13, to-

receive tl1e=locking=bar 65, the said bar hav' ing projections thereon suitably spacedapar to engage the shank of every third. knife andi cause'it to move a: certain distance indepcndent of the other sets of knives and. the knife-case when-jthe latter is movedbodily .caseis also cutaway on1the'to p; as'a't 66,

Eigr'13,.to. receive;the locking bar 67 Fig. 8.

This bar is provided with. projections 68 that 30 enter corres'ps'ondingnotches in every third- .k-mfca. The kmves coiiperating with this bar have the maximum, "1 movement 7 in traveling" from. thecuttin'gfosition' to the holderleading position an back again. The lock- 35' ing-bar GZisSeatedZ-in a fplate 69', Figs. 8 to-' the-kniite-case and moves therewith; to and fro as occasion .de

12,. that covers the; top 0 lnands. I'ts movement is 'due to the fact that is connected-to the knife-case by the lock 40 1ng-bar-6'Z'. As each sectionof the knife case 1s the same further description thereof.

is unnecessary. As to the'locking-bars, it should be noted that they are common to the three sections of the knife-cjase and per; .form the same oflice with respectto' each.

As before stated, it is necessary to move the knife-case bodily to the, cuttin position for loading th holders with th splints; The mechanism for doing this will now be described. ,Referring to Fig. 8, 70 indicates the actuator and comprises a horizontally extending bar located in'a suitable' slot formed .lon 1- tudinally of the reciprocating head 43. T e under sideof this bar is pr'ovided with rackteeth,' Figs; g and 8, meshing, with the teeth oil-a; segmental gear 72, the said gear'being mounted-oh a spindle 7 3m the head'43. On thejjiiposite'end of the spindle is an arm 74 o0 hatvingajlroller at its' lower-end which enages withand travels in the cam slot ormed betwee'nthe fixedgbars 75 and-76,

Figs: and. 8. It is-evidentthat as the head moves-n and down theroller on the end of slot is being-moved a greater amount. The lock-' neraon thereciprocating head-43 until" it e match ithe arm toand fro and in so doing move the; actuator or operating bar 70 forward ct the knives.- j

or backward. vOn the upper side of the said actuating bar are dia 'onally'arranged ip lines or PIOJGGtlO11S77, Fl 's. 4 and 16, two

r each section of the knife-case, which :enter diagonal slots in the under side of said knife'-case.- From this it follows that as the reciprocating head 43 carrying the knifecasemoves up or down by an amount sufficient to cause the roller on the arm '(4 in the cam slot to swing'the-same, it will move the knife-case sections bodily and as a unit toward or away from the cutting position. The angle of inclination ofthc. splines and their len th is suflicient to move the parts to the di erent positions shown in. Figs. 9 to 12. 'As beforepointed out, the lockin -bars 62,65 and. .67 when moved-by the kni e-case move theknives by an amount depending upon the totalbodily movement of the knife-k case' and upon the lo ta motion between said'harsand the shoul ers 01' stops on the wIn.Fig.-.1:7 is shown a partial; plan view of the reei rocating head-Q43 withithe knife-case remove 42 indicates the diagonal frame bar ot the machine having a dovetail slot to receive the dovetail projection on the head:

Extending across the head are the lockingbars 62'and 65, shown in section, Fig. 8,.

between the o posedshoulders on the head. As shown the areboth at-t-heir extreme right-hand pos tions. ,On 'the bar 62 are slots 63* in t e underside of the knives B'of each group, and on bar'65 are-shown the pro.-

jections 65" which enter slots 65 in the under side of knives G of each group, and causethe provided with an adjusting-screw 82 having a collar 83 thereon which-1s let intoa recess which look the knives B and 0, Figs, 11; and i 15, of; each-set in the knife-case. The movements ofthese bars are confined'to the spaces shown the; reje'ctions.63- which enter the its recesses in the head and are capableiofi a. small amount of adjustment. Each block: is.-

in the head 43. This collar-permits the screw to be turned to-adjust the block, wlfile confining it. against longitudinal movement. When it is desired to remove one or more of the knives, this screw is turned to moyethe projections 63. on theilocking-bar 62' outof v the notches 63* in the knives, after which the tion takes placeinsecuring the knives. v The them and ermitting insertion and remova else-"s eet .knivesca-n be pu lled'outof their groovesor sockets in the knife-case. The reverse operas 1'25- Ii i shown in plan the main operating bar or actuator 70 for moving the knife-case toward and away from the cutting position, The bar is let into a' groove formed in the head and in its movements is guided by the walls thereof. On the top of the baris shown oneof the six splines 77 used to impart movement to the knife-case. When the bar is moved in the direction of the arrow it moves the-,knife-case backward from .the cutting position and also the individual knives with respect to the case.

In order to guide the upper ends of the natch splintsinto the holes in the holders,

peci'a-l means are provided comprising a fgplurali'ty of fingers which come into service ion the upward stroke of the head 43 and after the actuating 1m 70 has moved the knife-case and the knives back to their respective positions. The fingers 85 are composed of thin flat pieces of steel having three corrugations in each of their edges, Figs. 9 to 12 and 18, so that when turned from the vertical to the horizontal positiomthe opposing surfaces of each pair will form three openings for the match splints held by the sets of knives A, B andC. These openings register with those in the holders, each splint going into a separate row. Thus it will be .seen that, although the splints are cut by knives very closely associated to avoid waste of match stock, the splints are quite widely separated in the holders soas to avoid all danger of theig'gnition paste bridging adjacent splints. 'Thesurfaces of the fingers forming'the openings for the splints are in- V plate 87' is firmly attached to the top of the clined so as to guide, and move ifnecessa'ry, the splints to their proper positions. The

fingers stand vertically when inactive and v are turned to the horizontal for service. Each r finger is attached to a spindle 86, Fig. 18,

mounted in the plate 87 and extending parallel with the shanks of the knives. The

reciprocating head 43 by bolts 88, Flg. 2, of which there are four, two at the ends and two between the sections of the knife-case. This arrangement prevents the knife-case sections fromyielding onthe cutting stroke. The left-hand end of each spindle is pro-' vided with a crank. 89, Fig. 18, for giving it .a quarter turn in "one direction to cause the fingers to grasp thematch. splints and a quarter turn back to release them. In order to move the fingers simultaneously .the end of e'ach'crank enters a hole'in a sliding-bar '90. The holes are so made that the necessary freedom is permitted each crank to enable it to turn, it being noted that the-planes of the cranks and the actuating bar, are not parallel. The bar 90 isprovided with a dovetail slot through which extends the dovetail'key 91.

The key, being disposed at an angle to the rear surface. of the head, will when the's1id-. ing bar is moved longitudinally impart thereto a sidewise movement. The key, it will thus be seen, not only secures the bar in its proper position with respect to the head, due to its formation, but assists in its longitudinal movements. The angle of inclination of the key is the same as that of the splines 77 because the parts actuated by both have the same movements. i

In order to reciprocate the sliding bar 90 a cam is provided composed of two paralleli- L-shaped pieces '92 attached to the diagonal Located between the L-shaped pieces is a roller 93 carried on a spindle 94 which is bolted to the top of the sliding bar 90. The cam has a shape similar to the one shown in Fig. 4 .for moving the knife-case. As the bar 90 moves longitudinally it also moves sidewise and the opposed walls of the cam are made parallel to permit the roller 93 to 'frame-bar 42 of the machine, Figs. 2 and 18.

move toward and away from the diagonal frame-bar 4211s required. The relation of the. cam and the sliding bar is such that the latter turns the fingers into the horizontal plane after the knives begin to move the splints upward and the knife-case is drawn back and before the knives force the splints into the openings -in the holders. The fingers are opened sufiiciently-to release the spllntsywhen the head 43 starts downward, and are fully opened before the knife-case is advanced and the cutting stroke commences.

Formed on'the forward end of the plate 87 are projections 95 which extend over the knife-case when the knives are in the cutting position, as in Fig. 9, and project between the splints, as in Fig. 11, when the knife-case is ret-racted- These projections servei tq reinforce the plate 69 upon which there isconsiderable thrust during the cutting operation;

', In Fig. 18 is clearly shown the relation that the holders 15 occupy with respect to match splints. From this figure it will be clearly seen that the holes 96 to receive the splints are laid out in parallel rows, and so spaced apart that there is no chance whatever for the ignition-paste to bridge from or carriers 15 are located. A, B and C indicate the knives and their relative positions with respect to the holes in the holders as shown. The/knife A has the greatest dis vtance to travel since its splint has to be moved back to register the hole 99 in the holder; the knife B hasthe next longest distance to travel to'biing itssplint under holelOO in the holder, andfthe knife C has 5 the shortestdistance to travel to bring its .10 holders they are quite Widely separated.

After the splints are formed and inserted in th holderslthe latter are moved by suit-- able mechanism, Such for example as that.

shown in my; Patent No. 808,767, dated Jan'.

2, 1906, in a manner to dip the'splints in paraflin, after which theyare coated with ignition paste 'an'dfsubse'quently dried by passing them back j'andforth over the ma chine on suitable tracks. I

latter descends three rows of completed matches are forced out of the holders'and permitted tofdrop through the chutes 102,

- into the hoppers 103, of which four sets are provided. These hoppers are mounted on thespin'dle which is so'timed that it advances a quarter turn for everydown stroke of the cross-head. Each hopper has a number of compartments each provided w1th a '35 n'eck 104 which registers with the chute 3.10 2, and a'receptacle 105. Iii-the wallof eachneckis formed-a door 106 which'is open when the hopper is. under the chute and is closed-when; the same is moved, by means'of-a crankIOZ,

40 the-free end'of which has a roller traveling in the slot in cam 108, These doors {are closed in all" ofz'the compartments of the hoppers except the one d1rec'tly under the chute, The compartments of the hopper'ar also each provided with a door 109 set'at an incline, F g.' 7 so that the matcheswillcoh lect on one side and arrange'th'emselves in parallelfrelation. Further, the'inc f'ned arran'gementof thedoors is such at the matches will be dischargedby a minimum openinggjand this very quickly.v 'These doors are provided with cranks 110 that enter holes in a rod 111,"the latter being provided with av roller at one end for engagement 5'5 withthe fixed-1 cam 112 and an extension spring lli the other. As the hoppers rot-ate the doors will'o'ien, discharge the matches, andcl-ose once or each revolution of the shaft 35'. Situated beneath the hopper. 0 ,is a discharge chute 114 having" directing plates 115. for directing the matches into the oxes situated below and carried on 'a belt 117, the'latter being driven by the pulley 118, Fig. 1. 4 v y,

.The operation Ofti emachine' is asfol:

lows: Assuming that the match stock is in the troughs, the downward stroke of the head 43' from the position shown in Fig. 8.

will form the splints, after which" the cranks pass the lower dead center and start the head upward. After moving a certain distance'in the upward direction the arm 74 and its attached roller move the segmental gear 72'and'the operating bar from right to left, Fig. 4, or from the upper to the lower side of Fig. 2. This'action causes the knifecase to moveba'ckward away from the cut:

ting position, and in so doing to move the locking-bars 62, 65 and 67 bar 65 and its attached knives-every third one in the knife case-moving the greatest distance,ba r

62 and its knives nextand finally the bar 68.

cycle the cam, 92, Figs. 2 and 18, comes into [service and moves the sliding-bar 90and the cranks 89 attached to the fingers 85, causing the' latter to turn through 90 and in so do- 'ingCenter the match splints. "Further movement of the head 43 onits upward stroke forces the splints into the holders or carriers 15, Fig. 12, the upper surfaceof the head acting as a butting-block to force the splints into theholders. After the cranks pass the upper dead center, the head 43 begins to move downward and with it the sets of knives A, B and C. "At or about the time the knives leave the splints thefingers are returned to their'normal position byreason of the-slidingsbar 9O returning to its normal position. Shortly after the cranks pass the upper dead-center, the operating bar 70 with its splines" 7 7 force'the knife-case forward to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, when.

This leaves the parts in the position shown v i I I in Fig. 11-. At or about this portion of the 20 After the matches are completed,- the-next step is to force them out'of the holders and loadtheboxes. This is accomplished by the following means, Figs. 5 to 7. The move' f' ments of the-holders. are so timed withfre-f 25 spect tothe cross-head 17 that each time tions, since the number of splints cut per stroke and the number of strokes per unitof time can be varied. v

By arranging the cutting edges of the knives in a diagonal plane with respect to the sides of the machine I- am able to use a greater number of knives and-cut a greater number of splints for a iven stroke than would be the-case if the one of the knives was perpendicular to tile sides. This is made evident by the fact that a diagonal line connecting two parallel lines is longer than "one perpendicular thereto; Owing to the di agonal arrangement, of the euttin'g edges of the knives shorter splint holders or carriers can be employed which means a material reduction in cost and weight and improvementin operation due largely to the avoidance of any tendency of the parts to spring. "The feature of moving the knives independently in the knife case to increase the spacing of the match splints preparatory to in- In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the princi "ple of operation of my invention, together .with the'apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire-to have it understood that the appa ratus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by' other means. '25

What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1s,

.' 1. In a machine of the character described,

. the combination of a frame having parallel sides and means for uniting them, a cutting head which extends diagonally between the sides'o'f the frame, knives mounted on the head, a Work-holder also arranged diagonally of the frame, a means causing the knives to cut the stock into splints, and holders which receive and-convey the splints from the knives andmove on the side portions of the frame and extend perpendicularly between them. v I

s 2.- In a machine of the character described,

the combination of a frame'having parallel sides and means for uniting them, a cuttingv head' which-extends diagonally between the sides of the frame, knives on the head arranged diagonally with respect to said sides, a means for reciprocating the-head and the knives, a work-holder also arrangcddiagonally of the frame, and holders that receive and convey the splints from the knives and which extend perpendicular to the sides of the'frame. 1

, 3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame having parallel sides and means for uniting them, a reciprocating head mounted on the frame and extending diagonally between the sides, guides directin the movements of the head, a crank or reciprocating the head, knives mounted onthe head, the cutting surfaces of ,which occupy a plane diagonal to that of the sides of theframe, a work-holder also arranged diagonally of the sides of the frame,

and holders which receive and convey the 1 splints from the knives, the said holders extending-perpendicularly to the sides of the frame.

4. In a machine of the character described the combination of a frame having parallel sides and means for uniting them, a reciprocating head mounted on the frame and arranged diagonally with respect to the sides, knives carried by the head, the plane of the cutting surfaces being diagonal with respect to the sides, means for retracting and ad vancing the knives on the head with respect to their cutting. positions, a work-holder also arranged diagonally with respect to the sides of the frame, and holders extending perpendicularly to thesides of the frame that receive and convey the splints from the knives after the said means has retracted them.

. 5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame having parallel sides and means for uniting the sides, a reciprocating head mounted on the frame and extending diagonally across it with respect to'the sides, knives carricd by the head, and arranged in sets, a means for simultaneously retracting and advancing the corresponding knives of each set, the knives of one sethaving a greater travel than those of other sets, a work-holder, and holders which receive and 'convey the splints from the sets of knives afterthey have been retracted.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating head mounted thereon, individual knives mounted on the head and arranged insets. means for retracting the knives of the sets by different amounts from their cutting positions together with the splints which have been formed and are held thereby for increasing the spaces between the splints, a work h'older, holders which receive the splints from the knives after they have been retracted, and means for advancing the lastmentioned holders between cutting strokes of the knives. I

7. .In a machine of the cha 'acter described, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating head mounted thereon, aknife-case mounted thereon, knives in the case, a means for retracting and advancing the knife-case with respect to the cutting positiom'devices actuated by the means for retracting and advancing some ofthe knives by a greater amount than the, others, a work-holder, holders to receive the finished-splints, and a means for advancing the last-mentioned holders between cutting strokes of the knives.

8. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of a frame, ahead mounted thereon, a vknife-case mounted on the head, knives in the case arranged in sets, a means for retracting and advancing the knife-case in a plane perpendicular to that of the cut ting stroke, devices actuated by said means which move the sets of knives by different amounts to increase the spacmg of the splints, holders to receive the finished splints mimosav tudinally' in said slots and certain of them .bya greater amount" than the others to increase the spacing between splints carried thereby preparatory to inserting the latter in theholders, a means actuatedby the head as it reciprocates for retracting and advancing the knife-case between cutting strokes, a crank for reciprocating the head, holders for receiving the finished. splints from the knives, and a driving means common to the crank and the-splint holders.

:10. Ina machine of the character d e-i scribed, the combination of a frame, a head mounted diagonally thereon, a 'knife-ca'se, knives mounted therein and arranged in sets, locking-bars common to the knives of the ditferent sets, lost-motion vconnections between the bars and the knife-case, a means actuated by the up-and-down movement of.

the head for moving the knife-case and through it the bars, holders for the finished splints, and driving meansfor moving the head andjthe splintholders.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination "of a' frame, a head mounted thereon, a knife-case carried'by the head, knives mounted on the knife-case, and

arranged in sets of three, locking-bars, which are common to the correspond ng .knives' of each set, lost-motion connections between certain of the bars andthe knife-case for moving the knives bydifi'erent amounts to increase the spacing of the splints, a means a for moving the knlfe-casebodi-ly- 1n va plane perpendicular'to that of the cuttingplane of the knives and through it the locking-bars, holders which receive the'splints after the knives have been retracted from their cutting positions, and aTdriving means common to -the head and the splint holders. I 12. In a machine of the. character described, the combination. of av .frame, a reciprocating head mounted thereon, a knife-case carried by 'the head, meansfor retracting and advancing the knife caseand the knives with respect-to the cutting position, individual fingers which are turned on their axes to graspand guide the splints as the knives are: retracted, means for turning the fingers on their axes, perforated holders to receive the splints, and Qrivingmeans for the head and holders.

13; In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame,a reciprocatingl head mounted thereon, a knife-case carried by the head, a cam for retracting and advancing the knife-case and the knives with roca ting head mounted thereon, a knife-case carried .by the head, means for retracting and advancing the knife-case and the knives with respect to the cutting position, fingers for ras pingthe splints 'which'have corrugated sides *andoccup y vertical positions when idle, a means for turning the fingers ontheir axes to causethe edges thereofto engage and direct the splints, holders which receive the splints, and a driving means.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame a head mounted thereon, knives mounted on the head and individually movable thereon, a meansjfor retracting and advancing theknives individually on the head with respect to the cutting position, comprising a bar, certain oft-he knives having a'g'reater movement than the others a spline, on the bar, a:

member cooperating therewith, a'cam and lever movingwith the headfor moving the .bar longitudinally, hel ders td receive the splints from the knives, and a'driving means for thehead and spliift licldersff 16.- In 'a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a head mounted thereon, a counterbalance forithe head, a knife-case carried by the head, k nives in the case, a means for moving-the case comprising a reciprocating bar, gearing" and a cam,locking-bars'which communicate the motion of the knife-case'to the knives for moving them difierent'distances to increase the spacing of the finished splints preparatory to inserting'them" in the holders,jspl-int holders, and means for actuating said hold-- em and; the head. 1

17. Ina machine of the character. de scribed, the combination of a frame, a head mounted thereon, a. grooved knife-case carried by the head,;notched knives in thef grooves, locking bars which enter the notches in the knives, a plate which rests ontween the other bars and-the knife-case, an-

operating bar, a spline thereon which en gages the knife caseformoving it, a gear which operates the bar, and a cam for moving the gear.

18. In a machine of the character dc-' scribed, the combination of a frame, a reciprocating head mounted'thereon. a knife-case carried by the head, knives therein, a plate that forms the top of the knife-case and receives the thrust of, the knives, a second plate on top of'the first which is fixed with respect to the head, fingers for guiding the splints mounted in the second. plate, 'a means for actuating the fingers, and a means for retracting and advancingthe knife-case and knives with respect to the cutting position.

l 19. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a head, a grooved knife-case carried thereby, notched knives mounted in the grooves and arranged in sets, locking-bars for the knives, each bar having projections which enter the-notches in corresponding knives of each set, means for moving the bars by different amounts in planes perpendicular to the path of movement of the head for increasing the spacesbetween the finished splints,- and holders which are provided with rows of perforations to receive the splints, the plane of a given row of perforations being at an angle to the plane of movement of the head.

' 20; In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a head mounted thereon, knives carried by the head,

a work-holder, holders which move along the frame and receive the finished splints from the knives, and means for causing relative movements of the knives and holders whereby a plurality of rows of splints can be simultaneously inserted in the holders, certain of theknives being moved by a greater amount than the others to increase the spacing of the splints, and a driving means for actuating the head and advancing the holders. I

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a head mounteddiagonally thereon, a work-holder, holders whichoccupy planes perpendicular to the sides of the frame and have rows of splint-receiving openings similarly ar-- ranged, knives'mou'nted on the head, a driving means for reciprocating the head and moving the holders step by step, and a means which moves the knives by different amounts to increase the spacing of the splints preparatory to their entrance into the openings in the holders.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a head mounted diagonally thereon, a work-holder,

holders which occupy planes perpendicular to the sides of' the frame and have rows of splint-receiving openings similarly 'arranged, knives mounted on the head and arranged in' sets,- a driving means for reciprocating the head and moving the holders step by step, independent means for moving the knives perpendicular to the path of movement of the head, the said means moving the sets of knives by different amounts to increase tlie spacing of the splints preparatory to their entrance into the openings in the splint holders, and mechanism for actuating the said means.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a head mounted diagonally thereon, a work-holder, splint holders, a driving means for the holders, the latter moving along the frame with their sides perpendicular thereto, knives carried by the head, a crank for moving the head downward to cause the knives to cut the splints and to force theminto the holders on the upward stroke, means for retracting the head and act through lost motion to move some of the knives more than others to increase the spacing of the splints, an actuating-bar for the knife-case and the locking bars, whlch is also parallel to the front of the head, a. cam carried by the frame, a means coiiperating with the cam and said bar for actuating it, holders for the splints which extend perpendicular to the sides of the frame, and a means for moving the head and the holders.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a head movable thereon, individual knives carried by the head and moving with it, means for ret noting some of-the knives from the cutting position and independently of the head by a greater amount than the others to in.

crease the spacing of the splints preparatory to loading the holders, holders mounted on the frame and movable over the knives to receive the splints, and a work-holder for feeding stock to the knives. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of May, 1907;

GEORGE PQLOOMIS. IVitnesses EDWARD \VILLIAMS, J12, BENJAMIN B. IIULL. 

